Patents by Inventor Alasdair CURRIE

Alasdair CURRIE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11963540
    Abstract: A device (10) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device (10) includes: an outer housing (40); a material inlet (43); a material outlet (44); a material guide channel (41) for guiding the material through the device (10) to the material outlet (44); at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam; and a treatment zone (19), located in the material guide channel (41), for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing while the material is free falling. The device (10) has at least one inner shielding section (51, 52) disposed within the outer housing (40) and enclosing the material guide channel (41) for shielding off radiation produced during treatment. A method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material using such a device (10) is also disclosed which includes: a) generating an electron beam, and b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the material, while the material is free falling in the treatment zone (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Bühler AG
    Inventors: Alasdair Currie, Martin Hersche
  • Patent number: 11896041
    Abstract: A device(s) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material using an electron beam. The device (10) includes at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam, a treatment zone (19) in which the material, particularly a freely falling material, can be pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam, and a material channel (21) arranged in the region of the treatment zone (19) in which the material can be pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. A planar protective element (23), which is at least partially permeable by the electron beam, is arranged between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21). The device (10) includes a holding frame (120) which holds the protective element (23) and which has a cavity (121) through which a cooling fluid can flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BÜHLER AG
    Inventor: Alasdair Currie
  • Publication number: 20220000130
    Abstract: Methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate goods (1), containing the following steps: a) producing an electron beam (5), b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the goods (1) by the electron beam (5) in a treatment zone (3), wherein the electrons of the electron beam (5) have an energy that lies in the range of 80 keV to 300 keV, preferably from 140 keV to 280 keV, and more preferably from 180 keV to 260 keV, the goods (1) are exposed to the electron beam (5) for a treatment time which lies in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms, and the electron beam (5) has a mean electron current density in the treatment zone (3) which lies in the range of 1015 s?1·cm?2 to 2.77·1015 s?1·cm?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Patent number: 11166472
    Abstract: A devices (10) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows, between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21), and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BÜHLER AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Meneses, Martin Hersche, Alasdair Currie, Niklaus Schönenberger, Thomas Scheiwiller
  • Publication number: 20210037842
    Abstract: A devices (10) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows, between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21), and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Publication number: 20210022374
    Abstract: A device (10) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device (10) includes: an outer housing (40); a material inlet (43); a material outlet (44); a material guide channel (41) for guiding the material through the device (10) to the material outlet (44); at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam; and a treatment zone (19), located in the material guide channel (41), for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing while the material is free falling. The device (10) has at least one inner shielding section (51, 52) disposed within the outer housing (40) and enclosing the material guide channel (41) for shielding off radiation produced during treatment. A method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material using such a device (10) is also disclosed which includes: a) generating an electron beam, and b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the material, while the material is free falling in the treatment zone (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Alasdair CURRIE, Martin HERSCHE
  • Publication number: 20210000145
    Abstract: A device(s) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material using an electron beam. The device (10) includes at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam, a treatment zone (19) in which the material, particularly a freely falling material, can be pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam, and a material channel (21) arranged in the region of the treatment zone (19) in which the material can be pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. A planar protective element (23), which is at least partially permeable by the electron beam, is arranged between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21). The device (10) includes a holding frame (120) which holds the protective element (23) and which has a cavity (121) through which a cooling fluid can flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Alasdair CURRIE
  • Patent number: 10849333
    Abstract: Devices (10) and methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The devices contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a good channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows between the electron source (20) and the good channel (21) and is separated from the good channel (21). A cartridge (24), for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BUEHLER AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Meneses, Martin Hersche, Alasdair Currie, Niklaus Schönenberger, Thomas Scheiwiller
  • Publication number: 20190183137
    Abstract: Methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate goods (1), containing the following steps: a) producing an electron beam (5), b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the goods (1) by the electron beam (5) in a treatment zone (3), wherein the electrons of the electron beam (5) have an energy that lies in the range of 80 keV to 300 keV, preferably from 140 keV to 280 keV, more preferably from 180 keV to 260 keV, the goods (1) being exposed to the electron beam (5) for a treatment time which lies in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms, and the electron beam (5) has a mean electron current density in the treatment zone (3) which lies in the range of 1015 s?1·cm2 to 2.77·1015 s?1·cm?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Publication number: 20190183136
    Abstract: Devices (10) and methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The devices contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21) and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER